Treatment Preparation

Most radiation therapy cases require a treatment preparation session. Special molded devices that help the patient maintain the same position every day are sometimes developed at this point. Colored, semi-permanent ink is often used to mark the patient's skin, to assist in aligning the radiation equipment with the target area. Most patients will undergo a treatment planning CT scan.

Following the CT scan, the planning process usually takes several days. When the plan is complete, the patient is given an appointment to begin radiation treatments. Radiation therapy can be started the same day in rare cases such as spinal cord compression.

The center uses the latest technological advances in tumor targeting including CT-MRI fusion, and CT-PET scan fusion. Treatments proceed with 3-D conformal radiation therapy or IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy). The center updates the targeting computers every year for the highest level of treatment precision.